Molly Dendy

Once upon a time there was a little country girl with dreams bigger than her over-sized purple glasses & imagination more vivid than her favorite red cowgirl boots. What others saw as an ordinary yellow playhouse, this little girl saw as her first workshop. When other kids had imaginary friends, this little dreamer was creating imaginary businesses. Molly Dendy was born 26 years ago in that tiny yellow playhouse in rural South Arkansas.

Founded by Jamie Ann Johnson, Molly Dendy is the namesake of her great-great grandmother (Molly Hill) and her great grandmother (Louise Dendy). The culmination of nearly 30 years of dreaming and designing, Molly Dendy is driven by much more than vivid dreams and unbelievably stubborn determination. Faith and passion are the cornerstones of this flourishing business and two of the most defining characteristics of this young designer.

According to Jamie, "there are enough products in this world...the last thing I want to do is offer people another product!". "You know how on even a really bad day, a song comes on the radio and you just can't help but smile? That's how I want my designs to be. Every time you grab one of our totes to head out the door for a busy day, slide on our sandals when you're getting ready for a job where you don't feel appreciated, or throw on one of our aprons when you're just feeling blah...I want my designs to make you smile, even when you don't feel like it!".

If you haven't visited Molly Dendy, you should. A trip to their site is like a mini vacation. It's happy, smiley, sunshiny, and just downright fun! - J. Kazawic

At Molly Dendy, they are MUCH more than folks who sell tutus and flip-flops with bows on them! Offering high quality, handmade luxury goods & gifts is just a tiny part of what they do. They're ready to shine and want you to shine with them!

Help spread the word by inviting friends to join their site, follow their blog and become a fan on their Faceboook business page.

Visit Molly Dendy today!

Getting to know Kenzie Shores

The husband and wife team of KENZIE SHORES (formerly "Shores Photography") continues to dazzle us with their stunning photography capturing the detail and emotion of each shot! Get to know the dynamic duo in pictures! Click here to view a short and sweet slideshow of the lovely and talented couple.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RYAN & BECKY

Be prepared to swoon over the saucy engagement photo shoot for "Ryan and Becky". These photographs were taken downtown St. Pete, and then to Ft. DeSoto for an even more beautiful sunset.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DANNY & JORDEN

Another favorite is the wedding of Danny and Jorden. Their photos captured the unique and daring color scheme they choose and as you can see, it was a very very good decision! To quote Kenzie, "It was incredible! I loved the colors they chose (orange is one of my favorites) and it was so original, I've never seen another bride use the same colors. " Check it out!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

This GORGEOUS photo was chosen for the Spring/Summer issue of Brides Florida. It will be in the "Favorite Photo" story. So, keep an eye out for it!

Location Location Location

Where did YOU get engaged?

Picture: dearsugar.com

Ten percent of the reported 2.3 million couples who get engaged each year in the USA, actually get engaged on Valentine's Day (Source: Diamond Information Center). It makes sense. Valentine's Day is the most romantic holiday of the year and has always been associated with love and lovers.

As simple as it may sound, the preparations for a proposal can be complicated. Specifically when it comes to the location.

Finding a perfect place to make a proposal is key to getting an answer one wants. There are so many wonderfully romantic places to ask, "Will you marry me?". You're likely to remember forever where you were when you decided to share a life together.

In a Garden

Adam and Eve got their start in the Garden of Eden, and so can you. The combination of a bucolic setting and air scented with flowers makes for a peaceful yet intoxicating place to propose marriage. Take a walk to a private spot and take the plunge.
Picture: visitsouthsomerset.com

In a Winery

Speaking of intoxicating, a glass of wine can calm nerves before a proposal of marriage. Most wineries feature scenic locations where a couple can find a private place to agree to live their lives together as a married couple. © Cynthia Blair, licensed to About.com, Inc.

On a Mountaintop

Love can take you higher. Whether you scale New York State's Catskills or C-1 together, the invigorating experience will get your heart pumping and your cheeks flushed... same as being in love. Picture: wayfaring.info

On the Beach

Barely dressed at the beach, kissed by the sun as well as your significant other, that's the setting for a marriage proposal that will be a sexy, sultry experience. Want to make it absolutely unforgettable? Arrive at the beach first, and build a sand castle that symbolizes your intention. It could be in the shape of a larger-than-life wedding ring or even a multi-tiered wedding cake.

At the Zoo

Birds do it. Bees do it. And just about every other species on earth does it, too: Pair off and mate. Follow your biological imperative and propose marriage at the local zoo or animal park.
Picture: earthfriendly.com

At a World-Famous Landmark

Whether it's in Hollywood, beside Westminster Cathedral, or at Nathan's in Coney Island, the place where a marriage proposal is made will never be forgotten. So choose a memorable setting — even though once the proposal is made, it's likely everything else will fade away until it's just the two of you, hugging and kissing and contemplating your future together.

Atop the Eiffel Tower

No city in the world is more romantic than Paris, and no place is more perfect for a proposal than inside the Eiffel Tower that overlooks it. Go at sunset and stay until the city is ablaze in light in every direction. Call one of the tower's two restaurants in advance for a reservation, and be dazzled. Can't get to Paris? The Paris Las Vegas casino resort has a scale replica of the Eiffel Tower and a restaurant at the top as well. And since marriage is a gamble that takes a bit of luck, this seems a perfect place as well.

Atop the Empire State Building

There's something about looking down from a great height as you ponder your future together after a marriage proposal... lofty dreams for a life together, perhaps. If you saw Sleepless in Seattle, you've seen how intoxicating it can be to stand 102 floors above ground and pledge yourselves to one another.

What was YOUR wedding song?

Some nervous grooms get sweaty palms at the mere mention of the first dance. But if you choose a song that is meaningful to you, and makes you happy, that first dance will go swimmingly. My husband and I chose Dean Martin "You Belong To Me" as our first dance song and it blended in like a charm with our "Italian/50's theme" wedding!

DEAN MARTIN - You Belong To Me

Watch the sunrise on a tropic isle
See the pyramids along the Nile
Just remember darlin', all the while
You belong to me

See the market place in old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me

I'll be so alone without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome too and blue
Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain

Just remember til you're home again
You belong to me

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember til you're home again
You belong to me

For those of you who are almost-wed, below is a list of popular first dance songs to help you with the decision. If you have already taken the plunge and your song was one from this list, let us know! Or if you had a cleverly themed wedding and traditional songs weren't your gig, please share. We love to hear about unique bride and grooms who "dare to go there"...

1. "You Are My First, My Last, My Everything" (Barry White)
2. "Take My Breath Away” (Berlin)
3. "The Rose” (Bette Midler)
4. "Our Love Is Here To Stay” (Billie Holiday)
5. "Just The Way You Are” (Billy Joel)
6. "She's Got A Way” (Billy Joel)
7. "We've Got Tonight” (Bob Seger)
8. "You Are My Special Angel” (Bobby Helms)
9. "If” (Bread)
10. "Everything I Own" (Bread)
11. "Heaven” (Bryan Adams)
12. "True Love Ways” (Buddy Holly)
13. "Tonight And Forever” (Carly Simon)
14. "You're The Inspiration” (Chicago)
15. "Lady In Red” (Chris DeBurgh)
16. "Longer” (Dan Fogelberg)
17. "Endless Love” (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie)
18. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (Elton John)
19. "Friends” (Elton John)
20. "The One” (Elton John)
21. "Your Song” (Elton John)
22. "Can't Help Falling In Love” (Elvis Presley)
23. "Always” (Erasure)
24. "At Last” (Etta James)
25. "Let It Be Me” (Everly Brothers)
26. "Songbird” (Fleetwood Mac)
27. "The Best Is Yet To Come” (Frank Sinatra)
28. "The Way You Look Tonight” (Frank Sinatra)
29. "If I Loved You” (from Carousel)
30. "As Time Goes By” (from Casablanca)
31. "Some Enchanted Evening” (from South Pacific)
32. "Somewhere” (from West Side Story)
33. "Love Theme To Romeo & Juliet” (from Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet)
34. "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You” (Glenn Medeiros)
35. "Here We Are” (Gloria Estefan)
36. "Beautiful” (Gordon Lightfoot)
37. "It Had To Be You” (Harry Connick, Jr.)
38. "So This Is Love” (James Ingram)
39. "Up Where We Belong” (Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warrens)
40. "You Are So Beautiful” (Joe Cocker)
41. "Woman” (John Lennon)
42. "I Swear” (John Michael Montgomery)
43. "Chances Are” (Johnny Mathis)
44. "Beautiful In My Eyes” (Joshua Kadison)
45. "So In Love” (k.d. lang)
46. "Don't Know Much” (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
47. "What A Wonderful World” (Louis Armstrong)
48. "Here And Now” (Luther Vandross)
49. "Dream A Little Dream” (Mamas & the Papas)
50. "Hero” (Mariah Carey)
51. "Grow Old With Me” (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
52. "Embraceable You” (Nat King Cole)
53. "Unforgettable” (Nat King Cole)
54. "When I Fall In Love” (Nat King Cole)
55. "Marry Me” (Neil Diamond & Buffy Lawson)
56. "When A Man Loves A Woman” (Percy Sledge)
57. "After All” (Peter Cetera & Cher)
58. "Glory Of Love” (Peter Cetera)
59. "Wedding Song (There is Love)” (Petula Clark)
60. "Perhaps Love” (Placido Domingo & John Denver)
61. "Forever and Ever, Amen” (Randy Travis)
62. "You Are the Everything" (R.E.M.)
63. "I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" (R.E.O. Speedwagon)
64. "Unchained Melody” (Righteous Brothers)
65. "Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You” (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson)
66. "Truly, Madly, Deeply” (Savage Garden)
67. "Kiss From A Rose” (Seal)
68. "Dreaming Of You” (Selena)
69. "From This Moment” (Shania Twain & Brian White)
70. "You're Still The One” (Shania Twain)
71. "If I Never Knew You” (Shanice Wilson & John Secada)
72. "True” (Spandau Ballet)
73. "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” (Stevie Wonder)
74. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love)" (Stevie Wonder)
75. "Ma Cherie Amour" (Stevie Wonder)
76. "Give a Little Bit" (Supertramp)
77. "Eternal Flame” (The Bangles)
78. "I Will” (The Beatles)
79. "In My Life” (The Beatles)
80. "Something” (The Beatles)
81. "We've Only Just Begun” (The Carpenters)
82. "In The Still of the Night” (The Five Satins)
83. "I Only Have Eyes For You” (The Flamingos)
84. "A Groovy Kind Of Love” (The Mindbenders)
85. "Oh, How The Years Go By” (Vanessa Williams)
86. "Will You Marry Me?” (Vonda Shepard)
87. "Hold Me” (Whitney Houston & Teddy Pendergrass)
88. "One Moment In Time” (Whitney Houston)

Ain't Love Grand?

Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani - September 14, 2002

Your big day is guaranteed to be full of memories and good times and if you've already taken the plunge, we bet it was fabulous! Visit us on Facebook and upload your favorite wedding or engagement photo to share with us and our fans. We would love the opportunity to take part in the memories from your special day!

As always, if PoshBetty provided you with your wedding invitations, please be sure to share a review (on our Facebook page) of our products and services. We appreciate and value your feedback.

In the meantime, enjoy these celebrity wedding pictures which we hope will inspire you to share yours! Photos courtesy of film.com

Nicole Kidman, on her way to marry Keith Urban - Sunday, June 25, 2006

Tori Spelling before her Wedding - July 3, 2004

Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner - September 25, 2004

La Petite Fleur

Floral arrangements for Weddings, Events and Special Occasions!

What do you get when you intertwine quality, elegance, and sophistication? The kind of wedding flowers you've always dreamed of and more! Visit La Petite Fleur today and prepare to experience floral bliss! Happily serving the Minneapolis / St. Paul metro area.

The bouquets feature creamy Dahlias, white, rice papery Ranunculus, white Hydrangea, white Freesia, Fiddle-head Uhule Ferns (my favorite), Brasilia, green Hypericum berries, Pittosporum greens, velvety Lamb’s Ear, and accented with loops of Pheasant feathers!

The ceremony and reception took place at the Landmark Center. Interesting story about the making-of the clever centerpieces: "We came up with an idea of branches covered with Gypsophila with little brown birds attached with hanging votives. The other centerpieces were to be a simple, elegant Dahlia bloom resting on a nest of moss and twigs. A couple days before the wedding, my kids, Anja and Magnus, were on a walk down by the Mississippi and found a ton of beaver-gnawed branches on the beach. They were gorgeous, almost Zebra striped. We collected a bunch and brought them home to find that they were the perfect size for the short centerpieces!"

The breathtaking photographs were taken by Kris Drake Photography.

Contact La Petite Fleur today! 651-402-3798 • carra@lapetitefleurmn.com

Wedding Gifts from Her to Him

Like the groom's wedding gift, the bride was traditionally only obligated to give the groom his wedding ring and have her family pay for the entire wedding! Today, many couples are opting to pay for the wedding themselves and more brides are giving the groom a special, extra wedding gift. The bride's wedding gift for the groom is the perfect way for the bride to express her thoughts and feelings for the groom and their new life together. A gift also demonstrates her appreciation for all the little (and big!) things the groom has done in the planning of their wedding.

While your fiance is likely to appreciate any gift you give him, this is time to get that special item he's always wanted. Unlike Christmases and birthdays, that come and go every year, a wedding is a once in a lifetime event which merits an exceptional gift. Of course, don't feel as though you have to top all previous gifts or spend more than your wedding budget allows. Your gift should be selected for its personal significance and be an item he will cherish for years to come. Here are some suggestions to consider:

Tickets to a game of his favorite sports team
Gold or silver cufflinks engraved with his monogram or initials
Luggage
Fitness Equipment
Electronics
Scuba Equipment
Barbecue
Patio Furniture
Netflix Membership
Appliances
Cool Stuff

Whatever you decide to give, be sure to include a short note or card. Take the time to share your feelings with him; tell him how excited you are to become his wife and tell him again why you're marrying him. In short, tell him how much you love him. There are several opportune times as to when to give the bride's wedding gift to the groom: a quiet dinner or moment, the week leading up the wedding, or during the rehearsal dinner at the time when you give the maid of honor, best man, groomsmen and bridesmaid their gifts. Or perhaps you'd like to surprise him with the gift the day of the wedding; have a bridesmaid deliver it to him the morning of your big day, during the limousine ride following the ceremony or at the end of the evening in your honeymoon suite - a finishing touch to your perfect day.

Article: credit

Winter Weddings

Add some sparkle to your celebration with these snow-inspired details. Why not warm up your wintertime reception with cozy-yet-chic concepts?

Mail Bonding
In lieu of a traditional guest book, this vintage postbox holds guests' good wishes; they're inscribed on postcards to be mailed to the couple post-wedding. $400 for 25 by Karen Bartolomei for Grapevine, grapevineweddings.com

Inn-timate Setting

The 15-room Jackson House Inn & Restaurant, jacksonhouse.com, sits on five acres of gardens and features a dining room with a cathedral ceiling and an open-hearth granite fireplace. It can accommodate indoor weddings with up to 65 guests.

Sea Change

A departure from hearty winter fare, executive chef Jason Merrill's ahi tuna entrée is dressed with watercress-and-apple salad and served atop curried rice.

Sugar High

A stylish accompaniment to wedding cake, this dessert bar of white- and cream-colored candies includes: Coconut marshmallows from Pearl River, pearlriver.com. Chocolate-covered cherries from Dean & Deluca, deandeluca.com. Rock candy from Dylan's Candy Bar, dylanscandybar.com. Jordan almonds from Amandier, 954-989-0220. And white-chocolate pretzels from the Sweet Life, sweetlifenyc.com. Stand from TriServe Party Rental, triservepartyrental.com. Vessels from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com; Tag, tagltd.com; and Pearl River, pearlriver.com. Spoons from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.

In Full Bloom

The bride's bouquet of mini calla lilies, magnolias, Vendela roses, pussywillows, and astilbes is embellished with faux fur. Flowers by Michelle Rago Ltd., michelleragoltd.com. Dress by Madina Vadache, madinavadache.com. Fur capelet by Cassin, 212-564-0946.

Festive Farewell

A horse-drawn sleigh, provided by Kedron Valley Stables, kedron.com, is the quintessential cold-weather exit for bride and groom. Hat, scarf, and gloves by Carolina Amato, carolinaamato.com. On him: Cashmere scarf by CT, ctshirts.com. Fur blankets from Adrienne Landau, adriennelandau.com.

Read complete article.

Photographer: Miki Duisterhof
Editors: Amber Furst and Linda Hirst
Writer: Betsy Goldberg

What do you get when you send the gift of surprise?

We have the pleasure of introducing Panty By Post!
Enjoy the journey into a world of pretty panties, love, sensuality, and adoration...

A recent trip to France changed Natalie Grunberg’s life. “Everyone in France is so put-together,” she says, “even while running errands, they look chic. And it’s not about having lots of money to spend on clothes. It’s about attitude.”

She was intrigued. Could the French attitude have to do with what they were wearing beneath their clothes? Who, after all, does not feel elegant, sexy and confident when they are wearing luxurious lingerie? She came home and pitched the idea to her best friend, Lori Sholzberg, and Panty by Post was born.

Panty by Post is part surprise, part indulgence, and part sexiness. At the website, you can order decadent French panties (from Montreal’s Blush line) in quantities of Sexy Single, Sultry Six, and the Commitment (12 months supply). Then, you, or the lady you are gifting, will receive a surprise—a panty in the post!

“It’s our goal to help women rediscover their inner sexiness and confidence,” says Sholzberg, who posed as one of the models for the website photo shoot. “As women, we often find ourselves doing so much for other people, it’s hard to find the time for us. Even if no one ever sees the sexy little panty you have on underneath your polar fleece and yoga gear, you’ll know it’s there, and that sexy little secret might just turn a few heads. It’s about attitude.”

Just launched in December, Panty by Post intends to hold a charity event benefiting self esteem in girls in the new year. They also have plans in the works for a men’s and a plus-sized line.

Hot Celebrity Wedding Trends for 2009: Your Non-Matching Bridal Party

There are bridezillas out there who would throw a fit if one of their bridesmaids dared to show up at their wedding with even a hair out of place, but if you’re a modern bride looking to achieve an elegant effect, you might want to ditch the notion that your bridal party should be smiling clones. While Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were the first celebrities to buck the trend when they stood up for their assistant in non-matching attire, first daughter, Jenna Bush took it a step further last year when she had celebrity bridal designer Lela Rose create not one, not two, but fourteen separate bridesmaid dresses in seven different colors for her Texas ranch wedding to Henry Hager. The trend has already caught on with many non-celebrity brides who are expanding their multiple color palette to include their entire bridal party. J.Crew has become a favorite one-stop shopping spot for bridesmaids apparel in complementary colors and styles, as has perennial wedding dress favorite, Priscilla of Boston.

Just don’t be afraid to buck tradition – especially if it means making your wedding feel fresh and modern (and your bridal party deliriously happy). Photo: AP/Lela Rose. Article: credit

Vegas Baby

"Las Vegas is one of the most unusual places to get married. You can organize your dream ceremony, from the most unique to the most sublime. Each year, over 100,000 couples exchange wedding rings in Las Vegas. February 14th, St-Valentines' Day is chosen the most often followed by New Years' Eve. Mythical couples like Elvis and Priscilla Presley, Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward pronounced their eternal vows." ...read more from travel magazine usa

PoshBetty wants to get in on the fun! We offer many fabulous invitations but we have a couple that are Vegas-Specific! Check em out!

Feel free to change the color and text to your liking. We encourage creativity and welcome your ideas!

Sweet!

At PoshBetty... things just got a little "sweeter!" Our new line of personalized Sweet Sixteen and Quinceañera products are sure to delight those Super Birthday Parties. The new designs have a modern and stylish feel.

Each white notebook opens up to reveal a blank white notepad inside, and the white pen conveniently holds everything together in one place.

These contemporary mint tins will appeal to both male and female guests. This modern package for your sweets (fill them with mints or candy that you like best) also makes a practical favor, after your party guests can easily slip them into their pocket or purse. You can choose the color and theme on the label to match the personal style of your event.

Just because you're all grown up now doesn't mean you need to leave all the memories of your childhood behind. These miniature vintage glass jars (just like grandma used to use!) give you so many things in one, ideal for your Sweet Sixteen or Quinceañera.

Who is PoshBetty?

Born from the notion that greeting cards needn't be mass marketed, yawn inspiring, two dimensional duds, the dynamic duo that brought “PoshBetty” to life had a fateful meeting of the minds and decided to expand their gem of an enterprise after seeing the buzz they were generating.

The PoshBetty team offers Ultra Hip and Cutting Edge Cool Products for everyone!

For the Swanky Bride and Groom:

Invitation Packages
Party Favors
Shower Invitations
Engagement Announcements

For the Mod Mom and Dapper Dad:

Birth Announcements
Party Invitations
Baby Shower Favors
Toddler T’s

For the Posh Professional:

Biz Cards
Letterhead and matching Envelopes

For the Lounge Lizard:

Cocktail Party Invitations
Drink Coasters
New Digs Announcements

They're here to please and pride themselves on customer satisfaction. Special orders are simple and encouraged. Trendy, urban, and uniquely retrosensual, their products put a fashion flavored spin in an art that's too smart to ever retire.

Formality gets a face lift, compliments of PoshBetty.

Simple and Chic

Thinking of having a retro vintage theme for your wedding?  Michellina delivers the dish and reminiscences about her Big Day:  

"Simple, chic, classic and budget conscience were the theme of the evening.  My dress was retro inspired from the 1930's, purchased at a New Orleans boutique.

The flowers were gorgeous baby green orchids delicately assembled by Lee James Floral Designs, Inc. 

Our "ride" was courtesy of a very good friend (owner of a 1963 Ford Galaxy).  We had a beautiful ceremony with music echoing from a violin and a flute. The cool spring weather made for a lovely evening. 

Our reception immediately followed featuring a multitude of tapas style hors' dourves, wine and sangria.  

Cup Cake Crazy made our delicious amaretto sponge cake which was layered with an amaretto custard and the topper showcased Lily of the Valley flowers in a delicate heirloom vase passed down from the groom's side of the family."

All in all it was a FABULOUS evening, sharing memories with good friends and family."  The night was capped off by a quaint soiree at the home of the Newlyweds.

"A New Beginning" Tree Bookmark

Mark your "New Beginning" with the ideal gift for this fall - a stunning stainless steel bookmark carved into a beautiful tree. Guests will be reminded of your blessed union each time they pick up their favorite book. Each silver colored tree comes in its very own shimmery white book shaped folder with a white satin ribbon closure. Bookmarks are strung to a white tassel that dangles from the top of each folder (see below).

Each folder is labeled with the words "Tree Bookmark". This beautiful bookmark with its creative packaging is sure to be enjoyed by guests for years to come. And here's an idea - try slipping in this tree bookmark along with your save-the-date cards to make sure guests "mark" the date for your fall event!

Only $1.65 each!
Click here to purchase.

"Babies are Sweet" Gum Boxes

PoshBetty provides you with the perfect way to welcome the little one in style and with a little treat. Each white colored re-closable paper box is filled with assorted colored gum. Gum boxes are palm sized and ideal to fit in a pocket or purse. Personalization is included, choose from a variety of unique baby themed designs, your favorite color and personalized text.

Only $1.65 each!
Click here to purchase.

Gum Boxes arrive separate from the labels, some assembly required (attaching the self-stick labels to the boxes).

Size: 1.6" x 2.3"

You may also like...

"Stuck on Love" Gum Boxes

Michellina and Paul's Mediterranean Honeymoon!!!

Paul and I are newlyweds and recently enjoyed a 7 day cruise through the Mediterranean for our honeymoon. I must say, if you are considering seeing Europe but still want to have some down time, this is the thing to do! We took MSC Cruises and sailed from Venice to Bari, Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, Corfu and Dubrovnik. Every port was breathtaking, it's hard to choose our favorite spot. The beauty of the Mediterranean cruise is that you can see many different places throughout Europe without the hassle of finding different hotels to stay in and trying to figure out how to get around, etc. You have the whole day to explore various ports on foot, but you also have the evenings to lounge around eating and drinking. If you are thinking about doing this, my suggestion would be to get to the departure city at least a day before in case of any flight delays so that you don't miss your boat. I would also suggest that you stick around in the arrival city at least 2 or 3 nights extra to really unwind. We stayed at great little hotel called Locanda Al Leon in the heart of St. Mark's Square in Venice. The owners were extremely pleasant and very helpful when we made our reservations. Here are some of my favorite photos!

She sells Seashells...and Felt Favor Bags too!

Having a seaside wedding? Guests can now take home their very own "Jewel from the Sea" with these elegant resin magnets. With their antique silver colored finish these gorgeous seashells make memorable gifts. Guests can later use them to hold a photo or note on their refrigerator. Each shell shaped magnet arrives in a white organza bag with an ocean blue colored tag featuring seashells and labeled with "A Jewel from the Sea". Orders will arrive assorted as shown. Only $1.25 each. Click here to purchase.

Seaside events call for seaside treats! Choose your favorite beach theme goodies to put inside and let the bag say the rest. Even the simplest gift you put inside will look perfectly packaged and match your seaside theme. This beautiful ivory colored felt bag is embroidered with seashells, starfish and sand dollars... just the right combination for a gift from the sea! Fill them as you wish for guests to enjoy. Only $1.30 each. Click here to purchase.

Le Petite Penderie

We are showcasing our new friends "Le Petite Penderie" found here at fashionablylate.us. They feature New & Vintage Designer Clothing & Accessories...from Homemade to Haute Couture. Shop with them today and take advantage of their SALE!!! UP TO 15% OR MORE OFF MOST ITEMS! Here is a sneak peek of the ultra fabulous items they have in store:

Unworn Vintage Lilli Ann Wool Coat

Vintage Un-carried Tiffany & Co. Handbag

Vintage Pony Fur Kelly Bag & Compact

Vintage Oscar De La Renta Brocade Dress & Coat

Mr. Blackwell Leopard Print Dress

Ponder this thought...

"Fashions fade, style is eternal"
~Yves Saint Laurent

Hotel Chocolat

When delivered as gifts, by post or in person, gourmet chocolates have the power to thrill, especially if they’re unexpected. Visit Hotel Chocolat and check out their fabulous website....fabulous products. And while you're at it, try this sexy recipe for Chocolate Paint (a gorgeously thick, extremely chocolaty paste. What you choose to decorate is entirely up to you. wink wink):

100g Classic Liquid Chocolat
50g Unsalted butter
2tbs Water

Microwave:

Mix all of the ingredients together in a microwaveable bowl, heat on full power for 1 minute, stir and return to heat for a 30 second blast or until fully melted.

Hob:
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl and heat over a pan of gently boiling water (bain-marie), stirring occasionally until the chocolate has fully melted.

Stir to make sure everything has blended together then leave to cool before painting onto a suitable canvas...

Buy Gourmet Gluten & Wheat Free Chocolate

Bachelorette party planning?

Bachelorette.com is just like a great bachelorette party. They are fun, a little-bit naughty and when the process is over, no one will know what happened. You see, every aspect of your shopping experience is completely private. Privacy is their corporate specialty. Afterall, Bachelorette.com is a division of PriveCo, the world's most private company.

Maid of Honor? It is your call. Bachelorette.com can help answer it.

Design your own wedding website!

Ever consider having a wedding website to showcase information about your BIG DAY? Share all the information about your special day with family and friends. DesignOurDay is easy to use and fully customizable letting you create a personalized wedding website for your big day.

What is Design Our Day, you ask? DesignOurDay is a premier services oriented website that allows couples to create their own customized wedding website. They give you thousands of options to choose from letting you put your creative stamp on your own personal wedding website. DesignOurDay wedding websites offer password protection, wedding maps/directions to events, online RSVP, guest books, your own photo album and much more.

They offer a wide variety of themes. Choose from Elegant, Classy, Seasonal, Contemporary, Modern, Destination, Casual, Skyline and Religious along with multiple wedding website packages to give you exactly what you need to get your site up and running.

• 14 Day Trail package: FREE
• Silver package: $95.00
• Platinum package: $65.00
• Gold package: $50.00
• Online Registry package: $15.00
  

Shores Photography

For more information on their amazing work, visit them online:
www.shores-photography.com

A word from the photographers:

Photographs are meant to be personal and emotional, therefore, they should reflect who you are. We are the husband and wife photography team, John and Kenzie Shores. With our portrait-photojournalistic approach to your day, we will be able to capture those important moments as they unfold naturally.

Featured Bride and Groom:
Jenny and Joe LoCrasto

Wedding Date:
October 28, 2007

Ceremony Site:
Siesta Key, Florida

Reception Site:
Sarasota, Florida, Marina Jacks

In the Spotlight: Becky Hill

Wedding Date: Feb. 10, 2007
Ceremony Site: Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas
Theme: Beach

Advice: "My advice for any Bride and Groom to be is be honest with yourself and others (without hurting anyone's feelings too much) and make sure that everything you are doing is what you want. Don't allow people to pressure you into something that you aren't happy with. It is only one day and that day is for you and the love of your life, try to always keep that in mind."

In the Spotlight: Shenee Haskell

Shenee and her fella Ronald are diving into the sea of marriage on August 30, 2008 in Orlando, FL. Their theme, "Love is Timeless" will set the stage on their big day. While this cuter than cute couple still has months to go, they are taking it a day at a time and enjoying it along the way!

See what Shenee has to say...

"Start early and enjoy the journey!!!"

In the Spotlight: Elizabeth Tordsen

Our new glowing Bride-to-Be is Miss Elizabeth and by her side is her fella Micah! They set the date for April 19, 2008 (not too long to go!). Their ceremony site is planned for the modish, contemporary, trend-setting Del Marcos Hotel in Palm Springs, CA. This place is SUPER CUTE! Designed in 1947, the Del Marcos Hotel offers a backdrop of the stunning San Jacinto Mountain. Something the guests always appreciate, their reception site is conveniently also at the mid century modern cool Del Marcos Hotel. To quote the bride when asked about their theme, "Getting married like it's 1958!" Time to go ReTrO!

See what Elizabeth has to say...

"I'm taking more advice than I am giving these days! We are still planning away and waiting for the big day! I would say, plan what you want and take others travel plans into account but once planned and booked...don't listen to the nay-sayers! It's your wedding and it is your day to do what you want and to get married as you want to! The wedding is just one day! The marriage is for the rest of your life...Concentrate on that!"

In the Spotlight: Rochelle Free

Rochelle and Greg were pronounced husband and wife on October 13, 2007 in charming Winter Park, FL at Knowles Chapel. Their lavish and stylish reception was held at the AAA Four Diamond Grand Bohemian Hotel (this setting just radiates swank) in Orlando, FL.

See what Rochelle has to say...

"My advice to any bride (or groom, I guess some of them help out now and again :) preparing for or during their wedding would be:

1. Don't be afraid to ask for your vendors to work with you. They should really be more than happy to help you cut corners, suggest an alternative, or give you an upgrade (i.e. your parents getting a suite instead of a standard room earns you big points!)... Just remember that you're spending a lot of money and deserve some pampering in exchange for this bill. If they're not willing to help you out, then they're more interested in making money then they are you. Ditch 'em and get someone else – I did this with our cake vendor and ended up a million times better off (p.s. if you’re in central FL, see Karen at Cupcake Crazy in Lake Mary and Lee James Floral Designs in Orlando, they are both amazing vendors!).

2. Try not to lose your cool if something goes wrong. You'll be the only person who's stressed out and look like the stereotypical "bridezilla". I had a moment where I thought I was going to go Naomi Campbell on the makeup counter ladies. Thankfully my cellphone stayed in my hand or I probably would have been kicked out of the store and had bigger problems to deal with! Instead I used the "bride pity card" to get what I needed done... tip: people are really helpful if you appeal to them with pity. ;)

3. Make sure you give yourself at least an extra *hour* of time during your schedule the day of. I only allotted 1/2 hour to eat. We ended up running 20 mins late and I only ate 1/2 a fruit cup while the photographer chased me out of the room to start photo madness. The girls ended up running even later for photos so they could eat a little more and I was starving before the ceremony. Not fun! If you don’t have any time, bring some snacks to the ceremony. They are a lifesaver!

Those are the biggest things other than the usual “have fun and just enjoy it”. My day didn’t go exactly as I had planned but everything ended up being perfect! Not one of the little issues or setbacks I'd worried about mattered in the least bit and I had the best time.

Good luck!!!"

In the Spotlight: Virginia Perry-Smith

Our Seasoned Bride in the Spotlight is Virginia Perry-Smith. She and hubby Rochelle (aka "Rocky") took the plunge "Renaissance Style" on November 9, 1996 in a quaint historic setting at St. Ambrose Church in Elkton, FL. Their soirée after the ceremony took place in St. Augustine, FL at the Cathedral Parish Hall. Smiles beaming all around with this happy couple!

See what Virginia has to say...

"If you can take a few weeks off before the big day, and still have enough time off for a great honeymoon afterwards, definitely do it! There are so many little details that come up in the final few weeks, it is so much better to be able to focus on nothing but your wedding and yourself. Definitely have fun, and laugh a lot throughout your wedding day -- this is your big moment; enjoy it!"

Here is a great quote that Rocky sent me on "marriage":

"The point of marriage is not to create a quick commonality by tearing down all boundaries; on the contrary, a good marriage is one in which each partner appoints the other to be the guardian of his solitude, and thus they show each other the greatest possible trust. A merging of two people is an impossibility, and where it seems to exist, it is a hemming-in, a mutual consent that robs one party or both parties of their fullest freedom and development. But once the realization is accepted that even between the closest people infinite distances exist, a marvelous living side-by-side can grow up for them, if they succeed in loving the expanse between them, which gives them the possibility of always seeing each other as a whole and before an immense sky.--Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)"

"...and always remember to stay in the driver's seat!"

In the Spotlight: Aly Gore

Aly and future hubby Lee are our very first couple with plans to tie the knot in the wintry month of December! Their big day is set for 12.16.07 in Philadelphia, PA and their nifty nuptials and attire will be themed after the ReTrO style of the 40's / 50's. They would like to give props to Steven Starr Restaurants (be sure to check out their website - it's Fabulous!!) and your very own, PoshBetty! click here to see the Invitation design Aly and Lee chose.

See what Aly has to say...

"My advice is that just when you think a person or place will not accommodate your needs or wishes, its worth taking a chance! My future husband and I are vegan and we wanted a somewhat green wedding. We took a risk in contacting places that were not accustomed to handling vegan or green oriented vendors and they all were excited and up for the challenge! It really blew us away at how interested they were, instead of what most people thought would have turned into a situation where they turned us away!"

In the Spotlight: Amber Smith

Amber and her "air-man hubby to be", Mitch are in the planning stages of their wedding! The date has been set for June 14, 2008 in Wenatchee, WA. Their theme is ReTrO (we love that!!). We wish them patience (with the planning), passion (with one another) and long lasting good ole LOVE & MARRIAGE (XOXO)!

See what Amber has to say...

"The most important thing I've learned so far is to be flexible and have fun when planning. We have 8 months until our big day and it can seem a bit stressful at times, but if you keep an open mind, it's amazing the wonderful ideas that will come to you. My finace and I are planning a retro themed wedding and want something fun and funky which would reflect our style. I was so excited to come across PoshBetty, which is exactly what I've been looking for. "

In the Spotlight: Beth Nawrocki

Beth & Rick took the plunge on May 21, 2005 in Smithfield, RI at St. Michaels Church. The theme of their nifty nuptials was "Lucky in Love" (have a look at the picture of their cake and notice how well it was designed right along with the theme!) The reception was held in Providence at the beautiful and historic Federal Reserve. The happy couple would like to commend "Bob Berk & Federal Reserve" for a job very well done!

See what Beth has to say...

"Use PoshBetty invites! Ours still have people talking about them --- so personal! Have them do envelopes too!!!! Pick the BEST photographer you can afford --- this is all you will have left after the day is over. Do not try to control so much of the days happenings that it interferes with you having the best time with your new husband. Do speak to every guest. Try to have a best man who is already been through marriage, they are far more a positive support to couple then a bachelor best man. Don't wait until last minute to do favors and place cards. Do address envelopes for Thank you cards as you recieve reponse cards. This minimizes time spent after wedding doing thank you's. Make a just in case box --- mints, needle, thread, spot remover. Keep it in the limo. Get a limo!!! Try to find a place to get a pic of whole group with bride and groom. If you can, add something they've never seen or entertains...we had MOET champagne sabering ceremony --- also still talked about today!"

In the Spotlight: Marlayne White

Marlayne was wed on February 22, 1997 at the Yacht Club in Auburndale, Florida. She is one of our "Seasoned Brides" and she offers some advice from the heart!

See what Marlayne has to say...

"A bit of advice is to expect things to not all go right. Try to accept for just one day that sometimes you have to ignore what you cannot fix - we do not have time machines to go back and redo. If it did not hurt anyone, Deal With It! and please, please ENJOY the day with your husband, family and guests, and take JOY in feeling like the most beautiful woman in the world if only for that one day!

We had four potential disasters - Our pastor's emergency was one, but oh well, Deal With It!! next, our flight out of town was changed a few days before our wedding and we had to cut short and hurry off leaving guests 2 1/2 hours sooner than we expected. We thought we had until 9:00 pm, but had to leave at 6:30 instead. Oh well, Deal With It! We sped up things like the receiving line and shortened toasts to get the buffet and music going sooner. One of the legs on our tiered cake was tilted and no one noticed until all the guests were there so, Deal With It! We turned the cake a bit and only a few photos show this. Leaving the house in the morning to get to wedding the family pets were accidentally let loose and we could not catch them running around all dressed up in gowns, high heels and hosiery as the men had gone ahead early to check on things for us ladies and left us to be picked up by limo. So you see, things happen. Love to all brides, hope you feel as lovely as I did on my special day."

In the Spotlight: Tara Alfonsi

Tara and and her new hubby tied the knot on 08/25/2006 in Minnesota. They added creativity and a unique touch to the norm. We love the non-traditional spin they put on their Big Day!

See what Tara has to say...

We had a Big Lebowski-themed wedding, featuring groovy invitations and programs, casual attire, and BOWLING! My advice is just to roll with it! It was overcast and kind of icky on the morning of our wedding - but it made for amazing photos! There is always an upside!

In the Spotlight: Julia Boyer

Julia and Brian were married on the "most popular wedding day in history", 07-07-07. Their ceremony took place at Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley, OH and the reception was held Downtown Columbus in the Olympian Ballroom at the historic Columbus Athenaeum (built in 1896). This setting offered an abundance of historic ambiance.

See what Julia has to say...

"Right after your engagement, book the ceremony and reception site first thing. You will have the two biggest things out of the way. Then take a few weeks to enjoy this exciting time with family and friends. Go out and celebrate! Before you start really planning, set a goal to eat healthy, get plenty of rest and exercise. Stick to the plan until the big day. It will become routine and will pay off in the end. Once you get into the fine details, it is wise to keep much of the details to yourselves...afterall, hearing other people's opinions may cause unnecessary stress. Take time for yourself whenever you can. You will be busy and preoccupied with wedding details and you will need that time to rejuvenate."

These incredible pictures were taken by Lambert Photography, Dublin, OH. Notice how they have captured the sheer exhilaration of the day...

click on pictures to enlarge

In the Spotlight: Debby Sisk

Debby was married April 2, 2006 in Orlando, FL at The Courtyard at Lake Lucerne. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding tucked privately away in an intimate garden setting.

See what Debby has to say...

"To anyone trying to plan their own wedding....keep it simple! Don't feel you have to invite everyone you have ever met. Just relatives and friends you know you will keep in touch with. Don't let others make you feel that you have to invite someone just because they want you too. Remember, you have to go around and talk with all of these people during your reception. If you invite the world, you will spend your evening trying to talk to everyone instead of enjoying your own reception. Be sure to take the time to step back and really enjoy your wedding day... it's one of the most important days of your life and it goes by so fast!"

click on pictures to enlarge

In the Spotlight: Shellie Postal

I couldn't resist! I had to give some advice and share some pic's from my wedding. I was married March 24, 2007 at the Orlando Museum of Art in Orlando, FL. It was such a perfect day!!

Here's what I have to say...

"Choose a top notch MOH and fabulous Bridesmaids!"


"Be sure you LOVE THY CAKE!"


"Laugh ALOT!"


and do something ridiculous on your BIG DAY!

In the Spotlight: Jennifer Luck

Jennifer was married on June 21, 2007 on the beach (barefoot and all!) in Captiva Island, Florida! The ceremony was held at South Seas Island Resort, on the beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and Red Fish Pass.

See what Jennifer has to say...

"Early in my wedding planning, my mom and I set out dress shopping. Our day included three appointments at bridal shops around the area. At the first shop I must have tried on twenty dresses. Nice and reasonably priced but not IT. On to the next shop, who happen to have a dress that I had been drooling over in a bridal magazine. The shop lived up to my expectations, I found MY dress, not the one I had been drooling over but the one on the magazine page next to it. Now comes the heartbreaking part, the dress was three and a half times the budget I had set for myself. Like a small child who was just told they couldn’t have a puppy I marched myself out of the shop and wanted to go home and give up but my mom reminded me that we had one more stop. At the last bridal shop I tried on the dresses with less enthusiasm, of course finding nothing that matched how I felt in “my dream dress”. So my mom and I parted ways after a long day and I think she knew then that I would plot a way to get the dress I wanted. The internet is a beautiful thing. When I got home I found the website, www.preownedweddingdresses.com. As if it was meant to be there was a girl selling the dress I wanted, in my size, who lived in my area and had actually ordered the dress from the shop where I tried it on! The girl had bought the dress and changed her mind about wearing it so it had never been out of the bridal shop let alone the original bag. She was selling the dress at a discount (still not within my budget but I had to have it), so I scooped it up. Morals of the story: 1. weddings are expensive but if you try you can find ways to cut costs and 2. you should feel like a princess in your wedding dress!"

click pictures to enlarge

They tied the knot!

It was a beautiful day for a wedding in Columbus, OH. The sky was blue, there was a breeze in the air and sugarplums danced in everyones head. Ok, enough of that...Tony and I barely made it to the church on time. We left later than we should have, there was an accident on the road, we hit EVERY red light, there was occasional road construction and when we finally got there, we had trouble finding a place to park. We managed to make it in the church door literally 1 minute before the ceremony was to start. Talk about your grand entrances.

The wedding began. Julia was a stunning Bride and Brian was a handsome Groom...they said their vows and sealed it with a kiss. Awwwwww...

The happy couple!
Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Brian and Julia Boyer

We headed downtown for the reception. It was a beeeeeeeeautiful setting and one of the largest receptions I have ever attended! It was in the Olympian Ballroom and the central open floor was bounded by 12 Corinthian columns reaching 25 feet to the ceiling. A 20-foot mezzanine wrapped the room's perimeter. (Sorry for the bad picture below - I was having serious issues with my camera most of the night).

The Olympian Ballroom

They had a mashed potato bar...YUM. As you can see, I went a little overboard with my toppings.

Mmmm...creamy mashed potatoes with cheese, bacon and onions!

Each table was set up with beautiful centerpieces and tealight candles. The party favors were simple and elegant...

Their "sweet" party favors!

Despite the white knuckle car ride, my camera trouble, blisters on my pinky toes from too much dancing and forgetting to bring their gift, 07/07/07 proved to be a great evening with Love, romance, togetherness and a lot of Wedded Bliss. :o)

We had a FAB*U*LOUS time!

07/07/07

Everybody loves a wedding! Especially on 07/07/07. My husband and I will be attending one tomorrow - "the most popular wedding day in history". For that reason alone, it's pretty exciting! The Bride-to-Be is having her reception in a beautiful spot in downtown Columbus called "The Columbus Athenaeum"...

While 7/7/07 will never come around again in our lifetime, couples can still look forward to 8/8/08 next year. Eights are considered good luck in the Chinese culture. And August 8, 2008, falls on a Friday.

By popular demand: Announcing our Announcements!

We hope you enjoy our latest addition: Nifty Announcements! Nary is there an occasion that couldn't use a little femme-flair, a little whimsical throwback, something simple, subtle, saucy. Our Announcements are born from the notion that they needn't be mass marketed yawn inspiring two dimensional duds. Instead, our line can be tailored to your liking! Baby Showers, New Digs, We're Engaged...whatever your pleasure. Stop by and see what all the fuss is about. All announcements are sold in packs of 12 (with envelopes) and includes a FREE - NO OBLIGATION Preview!

Bridal Shower

Engagement

New Digs

New Baby
Check back soon...more fresh and new designs will be added!

Wedding Bells for Michellina!

That's amore!

Michellina and Paul recently vacationed in Italy and while overlooking the Mediterranean Seaport, Paul popped the question! Now THAT'S romantic! The happy couple will be tying the knot next year.

NEW!! Wedding, Bridal and Baby Shower Favors!

PoshBetty is your source for quality designer favors. Get ready to swoon over our stylish product line of wedding favors and personalized products...

We offer party favors for many occasions...Bridal Shower, Wedding Events and even for Baby Showers!

Browse through our online catalog and you will find out why our favors are unique...

We ship fast!!! We want you to get your order as quick as possible. Most of our favors will ship within 2-4 business days. Certain personalized, or custom products may take a slightly longer time, usually in 5-8 business days.

It's about time it paid to be posh...

PayPal!!

For your convenience and security, we now accept PayPal! You control how you pay, too: bank account, credit card or your PayPal balance. From home, work, even your mobile phone. It’s all about choice: yours.

What it Means to be Verified:
To become Verified, a PayPal member in the United States must provide us with proof that he or she has opened an account at a bank or other financial institution. Because these institutions are required by law to screen account holders, PayPal's verification process increases security when you pay parties you do not know. Please note that PayPal's verification system does not constitute an endorsement of a member, nor a guarantee of a member's business practices. You should always consider other indicators when evaluating members, including length of PayPal membership and reputation scores (on eBay or other auction sites, if applicable).

Send a card...send a smile

Announce your engagement the modern way...send an ecard! American Greetings has some great ways to tell the world about your dreamy new man. Be sure to visit AmericanGreetings.com for a wide selection of eCards and printable greeting cards for every occasion.

Try it free for 30 days!

Deeeeeelish Mothers Day Recipe!

Show mom how much you care...cook her up a delicious meal while she sits with her feet propped up and sips her favorite cocktail. Give this one a whirl:

Lasagna Rolls
Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Sauce:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Pinch ground nutmeg

Lasagna:
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped
1 large egg, beaten to blend
3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more for salting water
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 uncooked lasagna noodles
2 cups marinara sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella (about 4 ounces)

To make the sauce: Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk for 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk. Increase the heat to medium-high. Whisk the sauce until it comes to a simmer and is thick and smooth, about 3 minutes. Whisk the salt, pepper, and nutmeg into the bechamel sauce.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Whisk the ricotta, spinach, 1 cup Parmesan, prosciutto, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend.

Add a tablespoon or 2 of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water. Boil the noodles until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Arrange the noodles in a single layer on a baking sheet to prevent them from sticking.

Butter a 13-by-9-by-2-inch glass baking dish. Pour the bechamel sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Lay out 4 lasagna noodles on a work surface, then spread about 3 tablespoons of ricotta mixture evenly over each noodle. Starting at 1 end, roll each noodle like a jelly roll. Lay the lasagna rolls seam side down, without touching, atop the bechamelsauce in the dish. Repeat with the remaining noodles and ricotta mixture. Spoon 1 cup of marinara sauce over the lasagna rolls. Sprinkle the mozzarella and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan over the lasagna rolls. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated through and the sauce bubbles, about 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until the cheese on top becomes golden, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the remaining marinara sauce in a heavy small saucepan over medium heat until hot, and serve alongside.

Difficulty: Medium
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 6 servings

Paris anyone?

Ahhhhh...Paris. The place where couples stroll by on romantic bridges and catch glorious views of the Eiffel Tower as it lights up like a beacon. Is it your dream wedding destination? If so, you will need the perfect invitation, won't you? We have just what you are looking for...

Or is your preference fabulous LAS VEGAS? Do you want to get hitched in the worlds largest adult playground with Elvis as one of your guests? Invite your family and friends the cool way...check THESE babies out:

Create a Window to Your Destination Wedding

With destination weddings on the rise, it is becoming more and more important for couples to have a means for informing their guests of their upcoming wedding plans as well as provide recommendations for out-of-town guests.

Wedding websites allow your guests one-stop shopping when it comes time for them to arrange their travel plans as well as other details. You can be as specific as you wish and link your website directly to the hotel reservation pages that you would like to recommend to your guests.

You will find that having a website is not only a time-saver but a budget-saver as well. The multiple mailings that can sometimes become necessary to communicate with your guests can easily eat up a good portion of any wedding budget. Allowing your guests to RSVP online will also cut down on your wedding expenses. No need for RSVP cards! However, you can always order just enough for those guests who may not be web savvy.

Destination weddings have definitely become a way for couples to express their style in a less traditional way. If you choose to have your wedding in a destination location, try to make it a fun experience for you and your fiancé as well as for your guests.

Destination Wedding Tips
1. Location, Location, Location. When selecting a location, choose one that appeals to your tastes and wedding style. Keep in mind, however, that because it won't be as easy as going down the street to the local church to attend your wedding, you'll have to assume that your guest list may be smaller. You'll need to get a good sense about the number of attendees you wish to have before selecting your event facility so you can be confident that it will be appropriate for the crowd.

2. Less is More. Destination weddings can be expensive not only for those getting married, but also for those attending. Try to be mindful of that when selecting your wedding site so those who are closest to you can afford to attend. Consider having your wedding during the off-season so costs will be lower. Traditionally, accommodation expenses are covered for the bridesmaids by the bride's family and for the groomsmen by the groom's family. All other guests should be responsible for their own expenses. Most hotels will work with you to offer group discounts.

3. Assist your Guests. You may know the location that you will be flying off to for your dream wedding like the back of your hand, but most of your guests will not. Your wedding website can be a tool to help you educate your guests about the area, local attractions, accommodation ideas, the weather and directions. Making their job easier will only amount in a larger turnout at your wedding. Use your website to remind them of the things they may not consider such as a passport if required for your chosen location.

Your Personal Wedding Website!

"Having a personal wedding website can be a true time-saver for both engaged couples and invited guests. Planning even the simplest wedding can involve a great deal of correspondence. With that in mind, having a custom wedding website can be the key to a stress-free experience."

I highly recommend "the Wedding Window". After extensive searching, I stumbled upon their site and I can't tell you how much fun we had setting it up! You will be amazed at everything you can do! There are so many features that most other sites don't offer. Give it a try. It's fun, it's easy and it's necessary. You're guests will thank you for it! Be sure to take advantage of their FREE TRIAL!

Rated #1 Wedding Website Provider Overall by Wall Street Journal. "Security is like Fort Knox."

Nervous to have all eyes on you?

If the idea of walking down the isle with all eyes on you has you feeling a bit jittery, don't worry. I have a full proof cure - it worked for me. It's called "Rescue Remedy", aka, "yoga in a bottle". It is made of all natural ingredients such as: impatiens, star of Bethlehem, cherry plum, rock rose and clematis. These all help balance the emotions, relieve stress and reduce fear and nervousness in stressful situations.

Best part is, it's ALL natural and has no side effects. Trust me, I know. I love the stuff! It worked wonders for me and my brides maids - we were all as cool as cucumbers!

Hosting an Italian themed event?

I've got the perfect favor idea for you! Purchase a small bottle of wine (at your local grocery store), some mini plastic grapes, stretchy ribbon and hang tags (at your local craft store)...put it all together and Voila! you have yourself a nifty little party favor that will leave your guests wondering where in the world you found such a cute, creative and unique gift! Photo below is an example. I made these for our rehearsal dinner. You can add whatever you want to the hang tag and if you would rather steer clear of the traditional "bride and groom name and wedding date", why not try a catchy phrase that goes along with your theme?

Kids Activity Table? DEFINITELY a must!

As you all know, my wedding coordinator was absolutely fabulous. One of the best suggestions she could have offered me was setting up a Kids Activity Table at our reception. I wasn't sure it was necessary at first, but thank goodness I had a change of heart and decided to go with the table because it was PERFECT for the little ones at our wedding.

TIP: I went to our local dollar store and picked up the usual crayons, markers, coloring books, etc. to keep the kids entertained and when I was there, I stumbled on...well, look below and see for yourself:

Even our adult guests got in on the fun! We have many hilarious photos and clips on our wedding DVD of "the masks" making their way through our reception. Talk about memories! Be creative...you'll be so glad you did!

Choose the right videographer for your Big Day...

Once again, I am making a recommendation based on my experience with my own wedding. During the planning stages, I wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of a videographer, thinking all along that a photographer would be enough. BOY was I wrong. I have been married only one month and I have to say, I have watched our wedding DVD tons of times and each time I watch it, I think about how GREAT it is and that I am so grateful we have it! We chose to work with a company called "The Pros". I discovered them at a bridal show I attended in Orlando. Our videographer's name was " Tommie McAuley" (to read additional feedback, click here).

He did such an AMAZING job! He captured ever little detail (even the food we had for our reception!). He was professional and unobtrusive and completely exceeded our expectations on every level. If you are seeking a videographer, please, do yourself a favor and contact Tommie at The Pros. You can't go wrong with him... I promise.

Need an Event Planner? Look no further!!

Savoir Faire is a full service event design and production company serving Central Florida and The Beaches.

The gals at Savoir Faire create weddings and events that are true to your style, personality, beliefs and culture. They infuse current trends with time honored traditions for events that are stylish and still timeless. As resource managers, their speciality is finding the perfect vendors to carry out a vision, and to put the fun back into planning an event. After all, celebrating life's occassions should be fun!

I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Natalie and Heather on my own wedding. Their touch gave it elegance, class and amazing FUN! Trust me, you'll love them. Be sure to stroll on over to their site and explore. While you're there, check out their blog!

Biz cards? why?

Of course you can use biz cards for the same reason most people do: to show off your trade. BUT, why not use them for something totally different? For example - you have recently moved. How about sending a greeting card and in this greeting card, enclose a cool card that gives your pals details of your move rather than handwriting it! Afterall, it'll save you time AND ink.

C'mon, we know you can do it! Dare to be different...

The new Mr. & Mrs.!

It's official! I'm married!! It was a BLISSFUL day!

Love is in the air!!!!

Exciting times on the horizon! Tony and I are getting married next Spring! Yippee! Hoorah! Weeeeeeeeeee!!! I am on cloud 9 if anyone needs me...

:o) Shellie

Got feedback?

We want to make sure your experience with PoshBetty is a good one so please take a minute and let us know how we are doing! We appreciate the feedback!

Get a jump on the HOLIDAYS!

Well, the fall season is upon us and the holidays are not far off. Why not start preparing for "the season"?
We've got a fresh new line of holiday cards and of course our merchandise is always great for giving that perfect little present.

What's New Pussycat?

Make them your own!

Wedding designs in colors and styles as textured as your personality! Choose your own colors, fonts and text...formality gets a facelift, compliments of PoshBetty.

WEDDING INVITATIONS ARE BACK!

Wedding Invitation Packages are back by popular demand!!!

We have taken into consideration your feedback and want to be able to supply you, our fabulous customer, with the products you desire. With that in mind, we are happy to announce that we have added Wedding Invitations back to our product line and look forward to providing you with our ultra hip products and services for many years to come!

Keep an eye out and check back often because we will be adding BRAND NEW fresh designs to the mix...

Thank you to all of our loyal customers...your positive feedback and kind words are what puts the "Posh" in PoshBetty!

Dear Valued Customers

You might have noticed recently there have been changes to the PoshBetty website. These changes reflect a current restructuring of product lines within our company.

With that in mind, wedding invitations, announcements, party invites and greeting cards are no long available for purchase...however, we invite you to explore our NEW products that continue to display our seriously swanky style! These include: snappy business cards with matching letterhead and envelopes, an array of modern merchandise and posh party favors that will make your next soiree an ultra hip occasion to remember!

We thank you for your patience during this period of change and look forward to doing business with you in the near future.

Feel free to drop us a line...anytime!

Sorry...

It has been an EXTREMELY busy summer at PoshBetty...forgive us for not writing sooner!
Between fulfilling all of our business orders, taking summer vacations and just the day to day personal stuff it gets real easy to forget to blog. I went to New York City at the beginning of July for my boyfriend's friends wedding, during our trip I wandered into various card shops to see the latest trends and what was being offered. There is some really cute stuff out there now a days and we really wish PoshBetty would get some more exposure. I did also see some pretty horrendous excuses for wedding invitations, you know the kind: ribbons, bows, lace, silk, satin, all of that stuff only a grandmother could love. I did leave some promotional cards around at indie boutiques and other trendy little shops. Lately, Shellie and I have had a lot of ideas on how to help our company grow but it can be very challenging as a small business owner without a large amount of financial backing.
We've been in business almost 3 years now and we're hoping that one day, one of the big fish stationery companies will take notice of the potential PoshBetty can be and help us become the Hallmark for the new generation. We want to have the ability to serve our faithful customers for years to come but in this great big online marketplace it's getting more difficult year after year.
At least we know we can rely on our fabulous customers to help spread the word!

Summertime...

The days of summer are upon us. Longing to be outside with the smell of fresh cut grass and the warm breezes blowing.
No body likes to be cooped up this during the summer months, so when it's time to hit the beach or the pool,
why not do it PoshBetty style!

Wedding Trends

Hi Everyone!
As you know wedding season is upon us and bride to be's everywhere know exactly what they want!
Many couples now a days are opting out of the traditional bows and lace look to their wedding, therefore, seeking a fresh and modern look, starting with the invitations. Your invitations set the tone for the celebration that's to come, so why not go with a company that provides everything from flexibility to style (not to mention competitive prices). We take pride in our customers needs for their special day, so we now offer everything from the invitation packages right down to the favors that you'll leave on the tables for your guests. Don't forget that even if you do not see what you are looking for does NOT mean that we cannot be of assistance. We aim to please and will always try our best to accommodate your requests.

Funky Biz Cards

A lot of our customers were looking for fun and original business cards, they were tired of the boring and bland. We started designing a few as custom jobs and we realized "Why shouldn't we offer these as a product?". Sure enough, we received a warm reception from our existing clients and this has expanded our business to new clients. We would love to service other small indie companies out there that are trying to set a certain tone to their business.

Please let us know what you might like to see more of, we want to help your business grow!

PoshBetty and Cingular Wireless!

Did you know that you can get the same great PoshBetty designs for your cell phones now! You heard right, we have partnered with Cingular wireless so our customers can carry us around everywhere!



click here and start downloading today!

We have a new look!

Stop by today and see the new look of PoshBetty! We have undergone a website-facelift and its looking better than ever!

While you're there, be sure to check out our new products...party favors! bridal products! attendants gifts! and much more!!

Meet us!!

We finally did it! Now all of our fabulous customers can feel free to voice their opinions, ask questions or just chat with the gals behind PoshBetty!